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1 Shoreline outlines sea-level rise projects affecting Half Moon Bay, urges regional funding
Summary
Lehi Matterman, executive director of 1 Shoreline, presented the special district’s work on shoreline resilience — including projects at the Sewer Authority Midcoast (SAM) treatment plant, threatened coastland landfills and planned flood‑gauge expansions — and asked cities to coordinate planning and pursue state and federal grants.
Lehi Matterman, executive director of 1 Shoreline (the San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District), briefed the Half Moon Bay City Council on June 17 about regional efforts to plan and fund projects that address sea‑level rise, coastal erosion and storm flooding.
Matterman told the council 1 Shoreline was created by state legislation that replaced an older flood control district and broadened the scope to address multiple water‑related climate impacts. “We think of our approach as holistic in terms of threats, geography and objectives,” Matterman said, describing the district’s work on both bayside and Pacific Coast vulnerabilities.
The presentation highlighted projects that have direct implications for Half Moon Bay. Matterman described a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant and a proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study for the Sewer Authority Midcoast (SAM) wastewater treatment plant, where the electrical and mechanical building flooded during the December 2022 storm. He said the Corps’ study would assess larger options — including potential re‑siting or major reconfiguration — and that 1 Shoreline is requesting federal support. Councilmember Deborah Penrose asked whether the Corps’ work could recommend moving the plant; Matterman said the Corps would study federal cost‑benefit criteria and that local agencies would have input on siting decisions.
Matterman also described two coastal sites of urgent concern: the closed landfill in Half Moon Bay and a similarly threatened landfill in Daly City. He said 1 Shoreline has proposed an initial $5 million funding request to begin “clean closure” work and that the district plans a joint funding strategy with jurisdictions and state agencies. For early warning, Matterman said 1 Shoreline is expanding its countywide flood early warning system by adding gauges on Pillar Sitos (Pillarcito?) upstream of Highway 1 and installing a repeater on Skyline Boulevard to provide more lead time for Half Moon Bay.
On planning and permitting, Matterman said 1 Shoreline has pushed for local land‑use rules that require private and public projects to account for future flood conditions. He cited a June 2023 board adoption of Bayside planning guidance and a recent $750,000 Ocean Protection Council grant to develop a regional shoreline application plan for Brisbane and nearby cities; he said comparable planning for Half Moon Bay is possible and welcome.
Matterman closed by reviewing 1 Shoreline’s funding: startup revenue and property tax collections have supported operations and projects, and the district has raised more than $30 million for projects over the last five years. He said the board is looking at long‑term financing options to sustain staffing and project work beyond 2030.
Why it matters: Half Moon Bay hosts infrastructure tied directly to the district’s work (notably the SAM plant and a coastal landfill). Councilmembers said the presentation underscores the need for regional coordination and federal funding to avoid repeated retrofit costs for local projects.
